The state of California has approved
a new energy efficiency plan, providing $3.1 billion for programs
from PG&E, Sempra Energy and Edison International. The
state is interested in providing financial benefits for programs
designed to persuade home owners to use less energy.

Specifically,
the $3.1 billion budget approved by the California Public Utilities
Commission will help pave the way to savings of 7,000 gigawatt hours,
150 million metric therms of natural gas, and 1,500 megawatts of
electricity.

City, county, and regional agencies will receive
up to $265 million when they create energy-efficiency efforts.
Home owners will be able to monitor energy-usage statistics when they
log onto the internet, the plan states.

"Capturing the
full energy efficiency potential in the state requires more than
simply providing rebates to support the installation of the latest
and greatest widget," according to Michael Peevey, the state's
commission president.

According to the state commission,
energy savings would be the same as three 500 megawatt power
plants. Furthermore, the new state-led programs would create
between 15,000 and 18,000 new jobs, while also eliminating almost 3
million tons of greenhouse gas emissions across the state.

"The
focus is to shift
priorities away from rebates for widgets to sustained energy
savings in the built environment," California Public Utilities
Commission member Dian Grueneich told the media. "These
numbers are breathtaking in their own right."

Due to the
faltering economy, energy conservation and efficiency have been
popular among consumers and companies interested in reducing costs.

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